Resources for Microsoft Security Exams
Microsoft’s ongoing investment in security has led to a structured setup of Microsoft Security Exams covering from fundamentals to Expert level exams, but this leads to challenges. One of the biggest challenges which exists in Modern IT is staying up to date with the content, therefore understanding where you can get the knowledge, and more importantly, the hands-on experience with these tools becomes critical to your career and personal growth. As well as the pathway to gain certification through the Microsoft Security Exams
To start with there is a great amount of training readily available through the Microsoft Learn portals. With Modules focused on the Microsoft SC series of exams and certifications. Now for anyone who is starting out on this journey, this is an ideal starting point, and below is a list of the key certifications to get you started, and within the certification page is a way to prepare section this is where the Learning Paths for the certification exist.
Source: Microsoft - Upskill with Microsoft Security certifications
Fundamentals
SC-900 - Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals
Associate
MS-500 - Security Administrator Associate
Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn
AZ-500 - Azure Security Engineer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn
SC-200 - Security Operations Analyst Associate
Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn
SC-300 - Identity and Access Administrator Associate
Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn
SC-400 - Information Protection Administrator Associate
Microsoft Certified: Information Protection Administrator Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn
Expert
SC-100 - Cybersecurity Architect Expert
Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert - Certifications | Microsoft Learn
What other resources?
Well, the above resources are handy if you want to follow the Microsoft material, but is it enough? Now I would often argue it’s never enough and there is always room to go further and also use other resources. These resources can be found through structured courses available on Udemy, Cloud Academy, Pluralsight, and LinkedIn Learning, often offered by people throughout the community who are recognised leaders in this space, so I would highly recommend checking those courses out, however, there is a cost to those services to consider as well.
In addition to these courses, you will find content on YouTube, these are usually free and again provided by people who are creating this content in their own time.
The other resource which I love to use books, so the best site available for this is Packt, with authors such as Dwayne Natwick who also provide fantastic community content. Links to books available:
Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals Exam Ref SC-900 Microsoft Security Operations Analyst Exam Ref SC-200 Certification Guide Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator Exam Guide Microsoft Information Protection Administrator SC-400 Certification Guide Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect Exam Ref SC-100
What next after the Microsoft Security Exams?
Gaining the certification and using the cont is great but how can you take that further?
Hands-on with the products is key, get yourself a demo environment and deploy scenarios out, you can sign up for trial licensing but also see whether you can shadow within your work a to gain knowledge and experience.
In my next blog will cover Ninja Training which has been developed by the product teams, attempting to provide an overview of what to expect and where you can find them all.
